Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-01-07
a TOUGH STRUGGLE.

paused for reply.
Tell me of the time when you didn'l
have something to say-and something
particular?"
"You speak as though l were per-
feet parrot, or magpie, Mr.. Morey.
hope may be allowed to speak once in
while. Not woman in this city talki
less than
"You are not talking now my dear p
mo, when you're taking the CONVEX
saton to yourself"
81 presume it is the old subject-wha'
your neighbors have got, and what you
have not got, in the way Of dress OF
furniture?"
NO, it is not"
"What thenP
ooh, go on with your reading. Ihave
nothing to say now. | should be sorry
to disturb you"
Nothing to ay!-for once you have
nothing to ,ay:"
"Nothing."
"That is good. Hs, ha, ha. nothing
to say! Now, Mrs. Morey, ri tell you
what III do with you. I'll-
"What?"
"rll give you $50 provided you do
not speak word for the next two
hours"
at is bargain!' It's a bargain ~
cried Mrs. Morey.
"Let US have a fair understanding ;
you are not to speak a word, or write a
word, for the next two hours, and if
you do not | am to give you $50"
eyes, $50"
"You may laugh, cry, and dance
about to your hearts content, but not
one Ineligible word must you utter"
81 understand-then Iges the $50T"
"Of course; if you win"
'If win! You may just rs well give
me the $50 now-I am sure of it. Why
I'd be sure of winning were the time
five hours-eight hours!"
"All right. 1t is now three minutes
Of two o'clock. You start in, and at 4
o'clock you win-provided you do not
speak in the meantime"
Precisely at : o'clock Mrs. Morey
closed her lips-tightly compressed
them. Her eyes twinkled merrily, and
she shook her finger at her husband, as
much as to say "Now besin-not a
word shall you induce me to speak"
Mr.. Morey read quietly for about
twenty minutes, when he suddenly
said:
"Hattie, the children were not at
school to-day. What can have become
of them?"
Mrs. Morey smiled; placed finger
on her lips, and gave her husband alook
that said: "No, you don't!"
Again Mr.. Morey read for some time,
when he cried
cha! what is this see! Your sister,
Ellen, married TO that old hunks, Hiram
Toldn
Mrs. Morey shook her head, held up a
finger, and laughed as much as to say,
at will not do; try again" Then she
waltzed about the room, which being
interpreted meant:
"Oh, am sure of that s60."
Mr.. Morey tried several other tricks
without avail. Nearly an hour had
passed and not a word had his wife
spoken. Her chance for winning seemed
good. She was jubilant, and laughed, 4,
danced, and snapped her fingers. FL
nally, happening to look out at the
window Mr.. Morey saw at the gate Mrs.
Brownson, the wife of his partner. As
suming serious and frightened look
he ran to meet the lady. In few
words he told her that he had just
startled in search OF her-that his wife
had suddenly lost her speech, and he
feared her reason as we'll.
Mrs. Brownson, a timid little erea-
ture. turned pale and looked much
frightened. She would have retreated,
but Mr.. Morey caught her by the arm
and hurried her into the house, begging
her to see and speak to his wife.
"Oh, my dear Mrs. Morey," cried Mrs.
Brownson, your husband tells me that
you are ill-that you have lost the
power of speech
Mrs. Morsy laughed merrily and
shook her finger at her husband.
Mrs. Brownsen was greatly alarmed
but said:
"Speak to me, Hattie, dear-tell me
that your tongue'is not paralyzed."
Mrs. Morey laughed merrily, then
put out her tongue to show that she had
full use of that member. To further
explain she went 10 the clock. She
pointed TO the figure z, then TO 4, looked
at her husband, shook her finger at him
and laughed.
"Just the way she has been going on
for nearly an hour" said Mr.. Morey,
"she evidently thinks there is some
thing wrong with the clock"
Mrs. Morey laughed, shook her head,
and playfully boxed her husbands ears,
meaning to say by action:
"why, you great story-tellsr, how
can you talk so!"
Mrs. Brownson thought her friend
was rapidly growing worse, and drop
ping into a chair burst into tears.
To rsassurs her Mrs. Morey ran to
her, and laughing and gesticulating at
tempted to embrace her.